Saints, Payton officially agree on extension

Metairie, LA (Sports Network) - The New Orleans Saints announced Wednesday
that the club and head coach Sean Payton officially agreed to a five-year
contract extension which will run through the 2017 season.

"I am excited that we have finalized this contract with Sean," Saints owner
Tom Benson said. "He has been a great leader for our organization. He and
Mickey (Loomis) have built a foundation of success as they have built the
roster. We have already begun preparations for the 2013 season and I look
forward to getting Sean back in the building as soon as possible, as I know
our fans do as well."

Payton, who served a one-year suspension for the 2012 season due to his
involvement with the Saints' bounty scandal, signed an extension last year
which would have kept him under team control through 2015, but the league
rejected the agreement due to unspecified language in the contract.

In six seasons at the helm of the Saints, Payton has guided New Orleans to a
62-34 record and four playoff appearances, including the franchise's only
championship when it defeated the Indianapolis Colts in Super Bowl XLIV.

With Payton exiled from the team, the Saints finished the season with a
disappointing 7-9 record under interim coaches Joe Vitt and Aaron Kromer.

The Saints have set 23 team single-season records under the direction of
Payton, including six which have been new NFL marks.

"Sean has been a critical part of our success, getting him signed to a long-
term deal is very important to our organization and we are pleased to have it
finalized," Loomis added.